HGTV Hometown Takeover

Oakhurst, California. 13,000 souls. The Gateway to Yosemite National Park. This unincorporated town in the Sierra Foothills has history in logging, gold and tourism. Oakhurst is the largest town in Eastern Madera County and serves as a commercial center for the outlying communities such as Coarsegold, Bass Lake and North Fork. But, the Oakhurst has no real beating heart, no town center where people can walk the streets, slip in and out of shops and boutiques, restaurants and pubs. Yes, we have the Raley's/Von's commercial corner, but those are just parking lots serving the stores.
We encourage the producers to help give the area Oakhurst on Highway 41 between Road 426 and Yosemite Southgate Gallery Row with a facelift - storefront facades that will encourage the 2.3 million visitors who travel the road the Yosemite every year to stop, stroll and patronize our town.

[@magwakeener]

Interesting. First, a disclaimer: I'm not a local. We've only lived here for 38 years. "The Boss" worked in the school system in the mountains here for almost thirty years, I commuted to Fresno and worked most of my adult life in Real Estate Development Finance. Much of that related to watching , studying, and financing urban economic development. Retired now, The Boss and I (she's not retired...started what she said was going to be a 'little consulting business' about ten years ago) have been lucky enough to travel extensively in the U.S. and Europe. In our travels, and in being respectful travelers, whether it's Monterey or Paris, San Francisco (our "birth area") or Bar Harbor Maine, we seem to seek out areas that appear to be what is mirrored here in the hopes and dreams for Oakhurst. If I'm correct, that's the core interest in this video. We (try to) love our neighbors, and have a strong loyalty to the community. After all, we raised our family here....However, indicative of the economic issues that have to be addressed at their center...certainly have to be looked at a point deeper than cedar siding and sidewalks...all of our now productive and happy adult children moved away from the area as soon as they graduated high school, went away to different colleges, and then found opportunities elsewhere. In spite of the wavering topography in the business area(s) we have to live with, and the wandering geographic business tendrils of our previous "planning", I have more suggestions and views than anyone wants to hear on the methods that could bring us to a place that we become sweet destination,. A destination locale that could bolster the economy, harvest the honey from those visitors that now generally just pass through on their way to, and home from, Yosemite and our other mountain attractions. Please don't take exception to that depiction of the goal. To get to a more lofty place, we must admit the economic realities. Some approaches to the end-goal, whether presented as warm and fuzzy, or as cold and harsh arithmetic, are do-able. Some seem impossible. Some are both. We DO have to be concerned what we wish for. Many love our community as it is. Many of us have strong feelings (and, in fact, a sometimes well-founded "fear") of and about change. Having lived in and having relied upon the "tourist trade" in a cute little Bay Area artsy tourist area earlier in our adult lives, and having visited many since, I get it. Economic boom is not a panacea. Economic stability and pride in community, along with continued and increasing opportunity for our younger residents wanting a foothold, often are. But there is a balance. And, to attain that balance, we must address the pitfalls of simply slapping a new facade on old ideas and attitudes. The raw resources are here. The capacity to glean the fodder of economic "health" from the travelers; and a willing workforce that could offer a valued experience to those visitors are two important factors in that quest. Unfortunately, capital is another important and elusive element in the equation. It's out there. And, as cycles-are-cycles-are cycles, capital shows up when opportunity rears its head. The questions always remain: "When will it come?" "What do we have to do to attract it?" And, finally, "Who do you REALLY want to bring capital and take ownership of your community?"

[@mettajennifer]

MILLIONS of tourists, not thousands! :)

[@JonBock]

There is no doubt that Oakhurst is a thriving and welcoming community, but a town center would be great! It is a dream for many and a common concern as well. Improvements along Hwy 41 would benefit locals and attract visitors, encourage them to stay a while, and make it easier to explore on foot, benefiting local business.

[@karenbussberg7829]

We do need a town center. Love this idea.

[@karenbussberg7829]

Oakhurst has a Wonderful soul. It just needs a place to show it off. Im sure thats what they mean.

[@faithmoore8903]

I love this! OAKHURST has no town square. We don’t have a Main Street. We need something to say “This is Oakhurst”. We need a meeting spot. For tourists there are no sidewalks to walk for dinner or shopping.

[@matthewmills6452]

Excellent news to hear that Highway 41 will be getting sidewalks! It is dangerous at the moment in many sections to walk let alone cross the street.

[@jimpaull731]

Great video and a great hometown!

[@mettajennifer]

LOVELY video! Good luck to all of us!

[@CCMike777]

I like Oakhurst just the way it is and don't think that adding curbs and sidewalks will help much. The "SOUL" of Oakhurst is in it's citizens and not in a proposed city center. Without much trying a person can find spots in town to meet others, have coffee or meals or just get together. I don't want to lose Oakhurst's rural charm.

[@DBoom70]

I wish I would have known about this project. I would've been happy to contribute in shooting, editing, or any other way I could have been of help. I live and was raised here in Oakhurst.

[@WrongIsThis]

How much longer do the open lots have to sit vacant where the old exxon station was on the corner of 41 and 49? Those lots where the old grocery store was next chevron have been vacant for 15-20 years. I know there is a waiting period due to underground fuel storage. 10 years? For me the heart of oakhurst is Dannys Pizza Factory and or Raleys and the MET cinemas.

[@roderickrayrutledge2740]

The shiny new hotels are disgusting and have completely ruined the quaintness of Oakhurst. I'm so ashamed of what has become of my home.

[@jodyneal4969]

May transfer to Tenaya & live there.

[@matthewmills6452]

A tiny tax on short term rentals and hotel stays would go a long way towards our goals, without placing the burden on locals. Use that fund to give grants to volunteer groups to get the work done and zero interest loans for businesses seeking to make frontage improvements. Also, quit allowing businesses dictate design that does not compliment a mountain aesthetic. Very few cabins or buildings in Yosemite or around Bass Lake seem out of place, yet in Oakhurst there is no identity. That needs to stop.

[@donwinn1889]

What about behind vons? GOOD places, for the community.

[@primopurp3055]

Lmao I love how no one ever shows the tweakers everywhere 🤣🤣

[@gypsybelletreasuretrove]

Can we do the facelift WITHOUT wrecking the hometown feel? Less fast food, less big box stores...the small town, local proprietor can be that soul!!! Don't sell out to corporate tyrants such as Walmart and Amazon who are DESTROYING the small business industry.

[@jimjakobs3390]

Hello Philip, I work for ABC30 Action News. We were hoping to use part of your video in a story in our 6pm newscast tonight. Any chance you could help me out by answering this question for our Disney attorneys? Did you take this video or do you otherwise own all rights to it? Do you agree KFSN and its licensees may use, edit & distribute it without restriction in all media per these terms: abc30.tv/terms? If so, reply YES.

[@philipkireland]

Hi Jim. I’m happy to say yes to all questions. I reviewed the Disney release as well. Yes.

[@jimjakobs3390]

@@philipkireland thank you! It's going to air at about 6:10pm tonight on ABC30.

[@philipkireland]

Jim Jakobs Let me know if there’s anything you need.

[@philipkireland]

Jim Jakobs Hi Jim, I was unable to view the report that night. Is it archived somewhere accessible, or can you send a link?

[@jimjakobs3390]

@@philipkireland I don't believe this story was published to our website. I'm off work until Tuesday. I'll try to remember to clip you a copy then. If you don't hear from me by next Wednesday please feel free to reply back as a reminder. Thank you so much. - Jim

[@anthonymono2321]

No no no. These guys just said that Oakhurst needs a soul. Tom wheeler, this artist guy, and whoever this lady is just said that Oakhurst has no soul!

[@AnGeLaOYA]

I am guessing it has to do with it appearing "ghostly". It has skeletal structure but millions are just passing through. We have the heart of Community, indeed, but the reality is if we cater to the tourists, we get to advance as well. There's no downside to this. Tourists don't mind passing through a ghost town to get to their destination. We're behind and need to catch up and it's happening, and it's a good thing!

[@shymoon7198]

This video is so so so so so ignorant. Oakhurst is the heart itself. There are so many hangout places. Imagine complaining about Oakhurst. Ungrateful.

[@anthonymono2321]

Boooo